Organizer Information
Emergence Magazine, published by the Emergence Institute, is a pioneering multimedia platform dedicated to exploring the intersections of ecology, spirituality, and culture through immersive storytelling. Founded in 2016 by filmmaker and Sufi teacher Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, it produces award-winning podcasts, films, essays, and music that amplify voices of regeneration and kinship with the living Earth. The Institute, a non-profit arm, extends this mission through educational programs like fellowships and retreats, fostering leadership grounded in spiritual ecology—the recognition of the sacred in all beings and systems. Past initiatives have featured collaborations with artists, scientists, and activists, such as the “Emergence Forum” series, drawing global participants to address ecological crises through contemplative and creative lenses. This fellowship builds on the acclaimed “Seeds of Radical Renewal” course, evolving into a transformative incubator that equips leaders to navigate planetary unraveling with compassion, reciprocity, and innovative action, supported by guest luminaries like James Bridle (artist-technologist) and Dana Karout (leadership educator at Harvard).
Title & Description
Seeds of Radical Renewal Fellowship: An Incubator for Emerging Leadership
This immersive program invites visionary leaders to cultivate regenerative practices at the nexus of spiritual ecology, adaptive leadership, and artistic expression. The purpose is to address social and ecological challenges by centering the Earth as a living, embodied presence, emphasizing themes of interconnectedness, more-than-human kinship, and embodied reverence amid global crises. Fellows will co-create tools for renewal through online dialogues, contemplative practices, and a culminating in-person retreat, integrating ontology (spiritual ecology), frameworks (adaptive leadership), and interventions (art and story). Participants emerge equipped to lead real-world projects that listen to non-human intelligences, foster reciprocity, and seed radical hope, all within a supportive community of 25 peers guided by expert facilitators.
Categories
Interdisciplinary Arts and Ecology (encompassing creative writing, media-making, design, visual/performance art, storytelling, and ecological interventions; also open to scientific, technological, and educational practices rooted in spiritual and cultural renewal).
Eligibility
Open internationally to emerging and established leaders in early- to mid-career stages, including creatives, artists, writers, designers, media makers, scientists, ecologists, technologists, systems thinkers, educators, place-based practitioners, and changemakers passionate about the intersections of ecology, culture, and spirituality. Full commitment to all program components (online and in-person) is mandatory. Applicants must be able to independently obtain a UK visa (e.g., Electronic Travel Authorisation or Standard Visitor Visa); Emergence does not sponsor visas or cover related costs. Team applications are evaluated individually.
Program Benefits & Awards
Fellows receive a full scholarship covering tuition, single-room accommodation during the in-person retreat, all meals, and round-trip travel to the UK (airfare to London and trains to Totnes, Devon; participants manage local airport/station transport). The program offers 6 months of guided mentorship post-retreat, access to a global peer network via Slack, and opportunities to develop and prototype real-world regenerative projects. Limited to 25 participants, it provides profound personal and professional growth, including skill-building in adaptive leadership and spiritual practices, with potential for future collaborations through Emergence’s platforms. No cash awards, but the fellowship’s prestige enhances portfolios, often leading to publications, commissions, or leadership roles in ecological initiatives.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Personal information and contact details
- Responses to application prompts (e.g., motivations, relevant experiences, and vision for regenerative leadership)
- Short bio or CV highlighting interdisciplinary work in ecology/spirituality
- Optional: Supporting materials like writing samples, project descriptions, or creative portfolios to illustrate alignment with themes
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a Zoom interview for a deeper conversation.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
Application Deadline: 14 January 2026
Location
- Primarily online via Zoom (weekly sessions from the US West Coast);
- In-person retreat at Sharpham Trust, Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom
Additional Details
The fellowship demands approximately 6 hours per week (live sessions, readings, assignments, and peer exchanges) from April to September, with proactive participation expected—no recordings for core April-June sessions to honor presence. Partial attendance may result in removal and financial responsibility for retreat costs. While open to all nationalities, visa feasibility is crucial; review UK entry requirements early. This program evolves from prior courses and may recur in 2027—past participants describe it as a “threshold-crossing” experience for soulful activism. No individual feedback for unsuccessful applicants, but the process itself invites deep reflection. Join the waitlist if the cohort fills, and follow Emergence Magazine for related events like podcasts on spiritual ecology.
Website Link: https://emergencemagazine.org/event/seeds-of-radical-renewal-fellowship/
